Nigerian social critic and activist, VeryDarkMan, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s response to the recent massacre in Benue State, where over 200 people were reportedly burnt alive in a brutal herdsmen attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area.
The incident, which has sparked international outrage, was first publicly condemned by Pope Leo, who labelled it a “terrible massacre” and called for justice. Following this, President Tinubu issued a statement urging the Benue State Government to engage the attackers in dialogue and reconciliation.
Reacting to the President’s remarks, VeryDarkMan described the call for dialogue as a dangerous sign of weakness. He argued that the attackers wield influence that surpasses even the federal government’s reach.
“You want to dialogue with those burning people alive? That shows they are even bigger than the President,” he said.
“This isn’t about politics they are bigger than APC, PDP, bigger than everybody.”
He also accused the country’s security agencies of wilful ignorance or complicity, questioning how the attackers could have mobilised with gallons of fuel and assault rifles without detection.
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“It would be clowning for the NSA, DSS, Police, or Army to claim they don’t know what is going on in Benue. They came prepared — with AKs and fuel. How did they pass undetected?”
He lamented the general public’s indifference to the killings, suggesting that the tragedy failed to receive due attention because Nigerians have become desensitised.
“What scares me most is that 200 people died and it didn’t even trend. No one talked about it until I shared the video,” he said.
Calling for practical action, VeryDarkMan urged Benue farmers to arm themselves legally.
“Every farmer in Benue needs to get a gun with a licence. This is beyond what the government can handle. Without the means to protect themselves, they are defenceless,” he warned.
On Sunday, the activist joined hundreds of youths in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, for a protest demanding justice and immediate government intervention.
